TrAQ: A novel, versatile, semi-automated, two-dimensional motor behavioural tracking software

IF 2.4 4区计算机科学 Q2 COMPUTER SCIENCE, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

SoftwareX Pub Date : 2025-03-26 DOI:10.1016/j.softx.2025.102138

Davide Di Censo , Ilaria Rosa , Brigida Ranieri , Tiziana Di Lorenzo , Marcello Alecci , Tiziana M. Florio , Angelo Galante

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

We present TrAQ, a new MATLAB-based two-dimensional tracking software for Open Field video analysis of an unmarked single animal. TrAQ allows automatic recognition of the animal within a user-defined arena, providing a full range of quantitative kinematic behavioral parameters. TrAQ, free and non-species-specific application, was quantitively tested with rodents. Within free software an innovative feature of TrAQ is the automated counting of in-plane rotations, an important parameter in the 6-hydroxydopamine hemiparkinsonian rat model and in many rodent models of neurodegenerative diseases, and a very time-consuming manual task for highly trained human operators. Quantitative results were successfully validated against commercial software (for tracking) and manual annotation (for rotations in a hemiparkinsonian rat model). TrAQ allows the characterization of motor asymmetry using non-invasive tools, thus appreciating the spontaneous Open Field behaviour of unmarked single animal, with minimum user intervention.

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来源期刊

SoftwareX COMPUTER SCIENCE, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING-

CiteScore

5.50

自引率

2.90%

发文量

184

审稿时长

9 weeks

期刊介绍： SoftwareX aims to acknowledge the impact of software on today''s research practice, and on new scientific discoveries in almost all research domains. SoftwareX also aims to stress the importance of the software developers who are, in part, responsible for this impact. To this end, SoftwareX aims to support publication of research software in such a way that: The software is given a stamp of scientific relevance, and provided with a peer-reviewed recognition of scientific impact; The software developers are given the credits they deserve; The software is citable, allowing traditional metrics of scientific excellence to apply; The academic career paths of software developers are supported rather than hindered; The software is publicly available for inspection, validation, and re-use. Above all, SoftwareX aims to inform researchers about software applications, tools and libraries with a (proven) potential to impact the process of scientific discovery in various domains. The journal is multidisciplinary and accepts submissions from within and across subject domains such as those represented within the broad thematic areas below: Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Environmental Sciences; Medical and Biological Sciences; Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Originating from these broad thematic areas, the journal also welcomes submissions of software that works in cross cutting thematic areas, such as citizen science, cybersecurity, digital economy, energy, global resource stewardship, health and wellbeing, etcetera. SoftwareX specifically aims to accept submissions representing domain-independent software that may impact more than one research domain.